ZipFit “Inner Boots”; the Growth of ZipFit; Reviewing Ski Boots; & More with Jeff Colt
Kara Williard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk with Jeff Colt, Brand Director of ZipFit, to make the case for why liners, or “inner boots” are one of the most overlooked yet most important pieces of gear. We also discuss the legacy of Sven Coomer; the growth of ZipFit as they bring new products to market; the Fischer x ZipFit collab with the RC4 Pro series; and Jeff shares his own ‘Crashes & Close Calls’ story from the Blister Summit. TOPICS & TIMES ZipFit at the Blister Summit (4:08)“Inner Boots” (7:52)“First Fit” vs. “3rd-Day Fit” (12:38)Durability, Consistency, Longevity (23:08)Reviewing Ski Boots (33:49)The Growth of ZipFit (39:33)Sven Coomer’s Legacy (46:33)Low-Volume Liners (51:01)Fischer x ZipFit (59:15)Crashes & Close Calls (1:04:23)What We’re Celebrating (1:11:00)RELATED LINKS Episode Sponsor: skierssportshop.comBecome a Blister + Spot MemberBlister Podcast: Sven Coomer, Founder of Zipfit (Ep. 35) Off The Couch: Jeff Colt on Chasing Western States & More (Ep. 152)Get Your Blister x John Fellows Artist Series ShirtCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10 Mar 20231h 16min
Skiing with Kids w/ Spokane Alpine Haus
For this edition of Shop Talk, Kristin Sinnott is back with the owners of the Spokane Alpine Haus, Drew and Rachel Harding, to discuss skiing with kids. We cover how we were introduced to the sport as kids, what it looked like to bring our own kids into the sport, and how it’s going. We also talk about how shops can help facilitate children and families getting into the sport, what it looks like to grow the next generation of skiers and snowboarders, what to look for in kids' gear, the gear that’s helped us get our families out on the hill, and more. TOPICS & TIMES:Drew and Rachels' Background in Skiing as Kids (2:07)Kristin's Background (5:02)Affordability (5:56)Child Care and Traveling with Kids for Skiing (8:05)Drew and Rachel's Kids Intro to Skiing and Parent Mentorship (10:42)Seasonal Leases (19:31)Parental Advice for Soft Goods and Apparel (23:14)iGrow stitches and Boot Cuff Considerations? (27:48)Boot Considerations and Growth (34:27)Hard Goods and Ski Poles (36:47)Leashes and Harness (41:38)Sense of Freedom for Kids (46:33)How Can Ski Shops Play a Roll In Kids Skiing (49:59)Helmets and Goggles (52:21)Kids Join the Conversation (56:01)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Ski Shop: Spokane Alpine HausBlister Recommend ShopsSpokane Alpine HausShop Talk: Spokane Alpine Haus (Ep.160)Shop Talk: Recap of the Season; Skiing with Kids; & Heated Socks (Ep.194)Blister + Spot MembershipGet Your Blister x John Fellows Artist Series ShirtCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchHappy Hour (for Blister Members) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
4 Mar 202359min
New Gear from Blister Summit 2023
Luke Koppa is joined by Justin Bobb, Kara Williard, Dylan Wood, and Kristin Sinnott to discuss some of the standout gear they were able to test at last week’s Blister Summit, from skis to snowboards, ski boots, bindings, and even snow blades. Then about halfway through, Jonathan Ellsworth jumps in and adds his thoughts on a couple of the skis he got on, too.TOPICS & TIMES Fischer RC4 BOA Boots (3:06)Moment Countach 110 (6:53)Kristin’s Ski Picks (9:09)Jbobb on Snowboards (10:49)Icelantic Shaman (13:17)Renoun Citadel 106 (17:44)Volkl Revolt 114 (19:45)Majesty Havoc Ti (23:18)Nidecker Supermatic Bindings (26:02)ZipFit Liners (30:46)K2 Mindebender 108 Ti & Nordica Unleashed 108 W (37:37)Deviation Works (39:06)Jonathan Jumps In (41:56)Snow Blades, Tele Skis, Mono Skis, & Compeed (54:36)What We're Celebrating (1:02:06)Crashes and Close Calls (1:06:12)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Powder7Blister + Spot Membership New Gear Recap from Blister Summit 2023OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Happy HourCRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
24 Feb 20231h 8min
Shop Talk: 3D Printing & Bootfitting w/ Pulse Boot Lab
For this edition of Shop Talk, we are back with Kai Palkeinen, founder of Pulse Boot Lab, to hear about what Kai’s been up to since we last talked, including opening a third location in Collingwood; the evolution of Pulse and what they have in mind for the future; their process for developing and refining some 3D printing technology that is being applied to more than just ski boots; what it means to spend the day fitting race boots; why liners are everything, subjective, and also circular (?); Kai’s thoughts on some recent new boot tech, and more.TOPICS & TIMES New Collingwood Location (2:41)Skiers That Care (5:57)The Race Skillset (7:16)The Evolution of Pulse (9:49)3D Printing & Verticals (14:04)Other Pulse Initiatives? (26:17)BOA Hype (32:06)Liners: Subjective & Circular (40:26)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Ski Shop: Pulse Custom Boot LabEp. 35: New Innovations in Bootfitting with Pulse Boot LabEp 217: A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt. 3: Stance Balancing with Pulse Boot Labs Blister Summit 2023 Registration Blister + Spot Membership OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Happy HourCRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchBLISTER Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
3 Feb 202353min
Blister Labs: AI, Machine Learning, & Ski Reviewing
Dr. Sean Humbert is back to provide an update on our ski testing at Blister Labs; discuss the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning for product reviewing and ski recommendation engines; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Skier, Biker, Mechanical Engineer (4:00)Update on Blister Labs Ski Testing (5:35)Artificial Intelligence & Ski Testing (9:48)Ski Recommendation Engines (16:20)Other Labs Initiatives + AI Engine Compatibility (21:42)Crashes & Close Calls (26:00)What We’re Celebrating (29:51)RELATED LINKS:GEAR:30 ep.198: Sean Humbert on Ski Testing & Dynamic ModellingGEAR:30 ep.213: Manufacturers vs. Researchers & ReviewersBlister + Spot MembershipBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationOUR OTHER PODCASTSHappy HourBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
27 Jan 202338min
Year of the BOA? Atomic’s Matt Manser on New Ski Boots, Liners, & BOA Systems
Matt Manser is back to go deep on the just-unveiled 23/24 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD (and Hawx Ultra XTD BOA GW); the new Hawx Ultra XTD Mimic Professional liner; the all-new Atomic Backland XTD; and why we’re suddenly seeing the proliferation of the BOA system on ski boots. We also discuss ponies, children’s cough syrup, and Matt shares his own ‘Crashes & Close Calls’ story.TOPICS & TIMES:Scotch, Kid’s Cough Syrup, & Happy Hour (9:22)BOA Teaser (16:01)23/24 Hawx Ultra XTD (17:42)Last Width and Plastics Used (19:59)Measured Weights (29:44)Comparisons to Other Boots (32:47)Glued-On Sole (36:21)23/24 Liner Improvements with Mimic (39:33)Gnar Bar & Walk Mechanism (45:25)The BOA in The Room (51:49)Fit / Importance of Fit (1:01:56)Durability & Repairability (1:03:26)Why BOA now? (1:10:02)Boot Out? (1:16:32)23/24 Women’s Hawx Ultra XTD (1:19:01)23/24 Hawks Ultra XTD Mimic Professional Liner (1:21:57)Consumer Options for Liners (1:23:42)Backland (1:29:51)23/24 Backland XTD 120 construction (1:38:23)Why Still Call It a “Backland”?(1:41:54)Crashes & Close Calls (1:45:18)What We're Celebrating (1:50:56)RELATED LINKS:Blister Rec. Shop: The Skier’s Sport ShopOpenSnow.com/BlisterBlister + Spot MembershipBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationAmateur Hour: Matt Manser on ScotchOUR OTHER PODCASTSHappy HourBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
20 Jan 20231h 53min
Shop Talk: Powder7 + ‘Crashes & Close Calls’
Jonathan talks about shop life, gear, the price of single-day lift passes, and more with Alex and Matt from Powder7 in Golden, Colorado. Then Blister bike editor, David Golay, joins Jonathan to tell his Crashes & Close Calls story.TOPICS & TIMES:What is Powder7 + Origin Story (3:57)Defining Ski Days (10:58)Lift Ticket Day Passes (16:59)Powder7 Test (32:07)Gear & Ski Width (37:48)Boot Fitting (48:53)Ski Trade-In Program (51:44)Crashes & Close Calls (1:00:42)What We're Celebrating (1:13:00)RELATED LINKS:Blister + Spot MembershipBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationOUR OTHER PODCASTSHappy HourBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDOff The Couch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
13 Jan 20231h 20min
Jeremy Jones on the Evolution of Snowboard Design
Today we’ve got a masterclass on the history and evolution of snowboard design with Jeremy Jones, as well as Jeremy’s own philosophy behind product creation and refinement at Jones Snowboards. Jeremy and I discuss “progression bumps”; a new Jones board coming out this spring; prototyping; finding design inspiration in unexpected places; a number of the boards in the current Jones lineup; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Splitboards: why did you start with splits? (6:36)Making gear work vs. dialing in gear (11:25)Progression Bumps: Evolutions & Revolutions (13:55)Jones Tweaker & Nose Shape (17:10)New Board: the Jones Butterfly (19:55)Philosophy of Product Changes (21:54)Storm Chaser & Inspiration from Surfing (30:08)Design evolution since the early 80's (32:11)Are you more picky about shape or flex? (39:14)Manufacturing errors? Tolerances & Variations (43:32)Supply Chain update (49:05)Project X Boards (52:10)Product Name Changes & ‘Know Thyself’ (54:06)Jones Apparel (1:01:40)Crashes & Close Calls (1:08:22)What We’re Celebrating (1:16:14)RELATED LINKS:Blister Recommended Shop: Pulse Boot LabBlister + Spot MembershipBlister Summit 2023 RegistrationBlister Pod ep.231: Speaker Series, Jeremy Jones YouTube: Blister Speaker Series, Jeremy JonesOUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister PodcastBikes & Big Ideas CRAFTEDOff The CouchHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
6 Jan 20231h 19min
